SAFE CAMPUSES NOWSAFE CAMPUSES NOW

BY: Adam AlfordBY: Adam Alford

OverviewOverview

• Safe Campuses Now is a Non-Profit Safe Campuses Now is a Non-Profit Organization that is located in Athens, GA.Organization that is located in Athens, GA.

• The organization focuses on providing a The organization focuses on providing a safe community for students in the local safe community for students in the local area colleges and universities.area colleges and universities.

• Safe Campuses Now is not affiliated with Safe Campuses Now is not affiliated with any one particular university. The any one particular university. The organization provides services and advice organization provides services and advice to all students in the community.to all students in the community.

Overview Con’tOverview Con’t

• Safe Campuses Now has an objective to Safe Campuses Now has an objective to provide the students and members of the provide the students and members of the Athens community with a safe environment.Athens community with a safe environment.

• The organization focuses on educated The organization focuses on educated students about crime and more importantly students about crime and more importantly crime prevention.crime prevention.

• The organization makes an effort to boldly The organization makes an effort to boldly explain potential outcomes of bad choices explain potential outcomes of bad choices and crime in the Athens community.and crime in the Athens community.

BackgroundBackground

• Safe Campuses Now was formed Safe Campuses Now was formed approximately fifteen years ago by the family approximately fifteen years ago by the family of a violent crime victim who was murdered. of a violent crime victim who was murdered.

• The organization has focused on preventing The organization has focused on preventing such crime in the Athens area and other such crime in the Athens area and other areas over the last fifteen years. areas over the last fifteen years.

• The organization has been run by the family The organization has been run by the family for the majority of its tenure.for the majority of its tenure.

• However, recently the family hired a non-However, recently the family hired a non-profit professional to run the organization in profit professional to run the organization in order to increase the income and potential.order to increase the income and potential.

Background Con’tBackground Con’t

• The organization has spread to many The organization has spread to many schools over the years, but unfortunately schools over the years, but unfortunately due to financial constraints, the Athens Safe due to financial constraints, the Athens Safe Campuses Now is the only remaining Campuses Now is the only remaining branch. branch.

• Safe Campuses Now has always depended Safe Campuses Now has always depended on volunteers to complete the majority of on volunteers to complete the majority of the programs. Often, the organization only the programs. Often, the organization only employs one full-time person to manage the employs one full-time person to manage the operation. operation.

Non-Profit OrganizationNon-Profit Organization

• Safe Campuses Now is an organization as Safe Campuses Now is an organization as described earlier that depends on described earlier that depends on volunteers.volunteers.

• The organization has one director that is in The organization has one director that is in charge of fundraising and overall charge of fundraising and overall operation of the organization.operation of the organization.

• The director of Safe Campuses Now is paid The director of Safe Campuses Now is paid a salary for her services. The director is a salary for her services. The director is the only paid position in the organization.the only paid position in the organization.

Organization Con’tOrganization Con’t

• Safe Campuses Now depends on over one Safe Campuses Now depends on over one hundred volunteers a week. These volunteers hundred volunteers a week. These volunteers come from many different areas.come from many different areas.

• Many of the volunteers come from the Many of the volunteers come from the universities and colleges in the area. The universities and colleges in the area. The students offer their time in many areas of the students offer their time in many areas of the agency.agency.

• Some of the volunteers aid in program design Some of the volunteers aid in program design and others perform and present the and others perform and present the programs.programs.

Organization Con’tOrganization Con’t

• Other volunteers are not necessarily there on Other volunteers are not necessarily there on their own will. The local court system in their own will. The local court system in Clarke County orders community service to Clarke County orders community service to some individuals as their punishment. some individuals as their punishment.

• The program director stated that some of The program director stated that some of those that come to fulfill probation those that come to fulfill probation requirements stay on and keep volunteering requirements stay on and keep volunteering because it is such a rewarding experience.because it is such a rewarding experience.

• The program director encourages all The program director encourages all community members to get involved, but she community members to get involved, but she stated that the majority of the volunteers are stated that the majority of the volunteers are students.students.

BudgetingBudgeting

• According to the manager of the According to the manager of the organization, budgeting and fundraising is organization, budgeting and fundraising is the most difficult part of the day to day the most difficult part of the day to day operations. operations.

• The non profit is currently in a major The non profit is currently in a major financial crisis. The manager stated that financial crisis. The manager stated that she has not received a paycheck for her she has not received a paycheck for her services in over a year. She stated that the services in over a year. She stated that the money is simply just not there to pay her.money is simply just not there to pay her.

• The students and manager attempt to not The students and manager attempt to not let finances interrupt the daily operation of let finances interrupt the daily operation of the organization.the organization.

Budgeting Con’tBudgeting Con’t

• Throughout the nineties, the non profit Throughout the nineties, the non profit received a local community assistance grant received a local community assistance grant from the state in the range of $30,000-from the state in the range of $30,000-$50,000. $50,000.

• Unfortunately, the organization has not Unfortunately, the organization has not received this grant in the last two years. This received this grant in the last two years. This grant paid for the daily expenses of the non grant paid for the daily expenses of the non profit including the directors salary, office profit including the directors salary, office space, utility bills, and other common space, utility bills, and other common expenses needed to run an organization.expenses needed to run an organization.

• Losing this grant has put the organization in Losing this grant has put the organization in a severe financial crisis.a severe financial crisis.

Budgeting Con’tBudgeting Con’t

• The non profit has a grant from the Governor’s Office The non profit has a grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety that pays for one of the programs of Highway Safety that pays for one of the programs that will be discussed later in this presentation.that will be discussed later in this presentation.

• This grant can only be used for certain purposes, and This grant can only be used for certain purposes, and daily expenses is not one.daily expenses is not one.

• The non profit brings in funds from advertisements The non profit brings in funds from advertisements that they sale for the semester magazine that is that they sale for the semester magazine that is produced. produced.

• The only other funds that are brought in are small The only other funds that are brought in are small donations from private citizens and companies.donations from private citizens and companies.

• The director stated that maybe one person a month The director stated that maybe one person a month will make a donation and it is usually not substantial.will make a donation and it is usually not substantial.

Budgeting Con’tBudgeting Con’t

• The director expressed her sincere concern and The director expressed her sincere concern and frustration with the financial status of the organization.frustration with the financial status of the organization.

• The director stated that the universities and colleges The director stated that the universities and colleges do not provide any financial assistance to the non do not provide any financial assistance to the non profit. The director seemed frustrated due to the fact profit. The director seemed frustrated due to the fact that the main purpose of the organization is to provide that the main purpose of the organization is to provide safety instructions for students in the Athens area. safety instructions for students in the Athens area.

• The director stated that she has requested free office The director stated that she has requested free office space from the University of Georgia but has been space from the University of Georgia but has been denied on several occasions. denied on several occasions.

• She stated there are times when she has to decide She stated there are times when she has to decide whether to pay rent or deliver a program to a group of whether to pay rent or deliver a program to a group of students.students.

ProgramsPrograms

• Safe Campuses Now participates in three Safe Campuses Now participates in three main outreaches to the Athens main outreaches to the Athens community.community.

• The goals of these outreaches are to help The goals of these outreaches are to help prevent crimes against students and the prevent crimes against students and the community through education.community through education.

• The programs teach students how to be The programs teach students how to be responsible for their actions and explains responsible for their actions and explains possible outcomes of negative behavior.possible outcomes of negative behavior.

Programs Con’tPrograms Con’t

• The first major program of the non profit is the The first major program of the non profit is the production of The Observer. This is a magazine production of The Observer. This is a magazine that is written by the student volunteers and that is written by the student volunteers and published once in the fall and once in the spring. published once in the fall and once in the spring.

• The organization publishes 50,000 copies of the The organization publishes 50,000 copies of the newspaper and they are delivered to schools, newspaper and they are delivered to schools, dorms, and businesses throughout the Athens dorms, and businesses throughout the Athens area free of charge. area free of charge.

• The Observer is a magazine that contains The Observer is a magazine that contains educational columns written by students that educational columns written by students that cover areas from crime prevention to drinking cover areas from crime prevention to drinking responsibly.responsibly.

Programs Con’tPrograms Con’t

• The Observer is financed solely through The Observer is financed solely through advertisements that are sold to businesses advertisements that are sold to businesses to be placed in the newspaper. to be placed in the newspaper.

• The newspaper is not published until The newspaper is not published until enough advertisement funds are available. enough advertisement funds are available.

• The local newspaper does offer the non The local newspaper does offer the non profit a low cost printing option. profit a low cost printing option.

• The Observer is the main publication put The Observer is the main publication put out by the non profit and the director stated out by the non profit and the director stated that it must continue so that information that it must continue so that information can be given to the community.can be given to the community.

Programs Con’tPrograms Con’t

• The second program that the non profit is The second program that the non profit is active with is a poster and billboard active with is a poster and billboard campaign in the Athens area.campaign in the Athens area.

• The campaign is completely funded through The campaign is completely funded through an approximately $20,000 grant from the an approximately $20,000 grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

• This grant is contingent on the yearly This grant is contingent on the yearly budget for the state and could be taken budget for the state and could be taken away at any given point.away at any given point.

Programs Con’tPrograms Con’t

• The poster/billboard campaign focuses on The poster/billboard campaign focuses on subjects such as rape, driving under the subjects such as rape, driving under the influence, and drug use. influence, and drug use.

• These posters are very bold and are meant These posters are very bold and are meant to get the viewers attention.to get the viewers attention.

• The posters are found all throughout the The posters are found all throughout the county at schools, restaurants, and bars.county at schools, restaurants, and bars.

• Two billboards are also up in the Athens Two billboards are also up in the Athens area that portray the bold messages of the area that portray the bold messages of the organization.organization.

Programs Con’tPrograms Con’t

• The third and final program that the non profit The third and final program that the non profit participates in is general awareness for participates in is general awareness for university and college students. university and college students.

• The non profit offers and conducts safety The non profit offers and conducts safety seminars that educate students on potential seminars that educate students on potential dangers and warning signs for various crimes. dangers and warning signs for various crimes.

• Often these programs are sponsored by Safe Often these programs are sponsored by Safe Campuses Now, but are taught by an outside Campuses Now, but are taught by an outside agency.agency.

Programs Con’tPrograms Con’t

• For example, the non profit sponsors a self defense For example, the non profit sponsors a self defense class for women, but the class is actually taught by class for women, but the class is actually taught by the University of Georgia Police Department.the University of Georgia Police Department.

• The non profit has found that at times it is difficult The non profit has found that at times it is difficult to get students to attend classes and seminars, to get students to attend classes and seminars, but they are working on increasing the awareness but they are working on increasing the awareness for the classes.for the classes.

• These classes normally do not cost the These classes normally do not cost the organization very much money because the organization very much money because the supplies are often donated and the personnel time supplies are often donated and the personnel time is usually volunteered or covered by the agency is usually volunteered or covered by the agency providing the instruction.providing the instruction.

Observations and NotesObservations and Notes

• Through my observation, I have found that the Through my observation, I have found that the organization provides a very important and organization provides a very important and educational message. However, they are in too bad educational message. However, they are in too bad of financial shape to continue at the current rate. of financial shape to continue at the current rate.

• The program director has to focus on fundraising for The program director has to focus on fundraising for the organization or it is not going to be able to the organization or it is not going to be able to continue. continue.

• It is easy to understand why they do not want to It is easy to understand why they do not want to cease any programs, but if the financial status was cease any programs, but if the financial status was better, then the programs would be able to be more better, then the programs would be able to be more beneficial to the students and the community.beneficial to the students and the community.

ObservationsObservations

• It is my opinion that the director has It is my opinion that the director has to find a way to tap the resources of to find a way to tap the resources of the universities and colleges in the the universities and colleges in the area.area.

• Each one has a lot to offer and the Each one has a lot to offer and the key is finding what and where they key is finding what and where they are willing to assist. are willing to assist.

ObservationsObservations

• Safe Campuses Now is legally defined as a non-Safe Campuses Now is legally defined as a non-profit organization in Athens, Clarke County, profit organization in Athens, Clarke County, Georgia.Georgia.

• Therefore, they receive all of the benefits Therefore, they receive all of the benefits pertaining to that designation.pertaining to that designation.

• Safe Campuses Now does not have a membership Safe Campuses Now does not have a membership status like most non profit groups. They simply status like most non profit groups. They simply have volunteers from different walks of life.have volunteers from different walks of life.

• According to the director, the number of According to the director, the number of volunteers is usually higher during the beginning volunteers is usually higher during the beginning of the school year and it tapers off as the year of the school year and it tapers off as the year goes on.goes on.

CitationCitation

• It should be noted that information It should be noted that information for this power point was collected for this power point was collected through an interview with the through an interview with the director of the Safe Campuses Now director of the Safe Campuses Now Program.Program.

• Additional information was collected Additional information was collected from various editions of The from various editions of The Observer.Observer.